Locking switch



y 1934 E. H. JACOBS 1,966,894

LOCKING SWITCH Filed June 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 17, 1934. JACOBS 1,966,894

LOCKING SWITCH Filed June 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-169) This invention relates, generally speaking, to switches for use in connection with electrical equipment and is concerned with an improved locking switch and more particularly with a manually operated switch employed in connection with electrical equipment operating on high amperages, and having means for locking the switch in closed position.

A switch of this type, in the simplest embodiment, comprises stationary contact members, so called contact clips or jaws, and movable contact blades for engaging the contact clips to close or to open an electrical circuit.

It is desirable that such a disconnecting switch 15 should be installed in a place which is not readily accessible to the attendants without using special tools for reaching the switch when its operation is desired. This precaution is necessary for protecting the attendants as well as the equipment, and will be understood when considering that such a switch may be employed in connection with circuits carrying high capacities of current, in certain cases exceeding several thousand amperes. The switch is therefore devoid of operating handles and the like, but is provided with eyelets of various forms, or with suitable latches adapted to be engaged by a so called hook stick or hook pole for moving the connecting blades of the switch in and out of contact withthe stationary clip.

There is also a locking mechanism provided for definitely locking the switch in closed position. The use of a hook pole for operating the switch actuates the locking mechanism to release the 35 blades preparatory to dislodging the same from contact with the clip. Thisinvolves a deliberate premeditated act on the part of the attendant to the end of safeguarding the electrical equipment which might be damaged by accidental opening of the switch, and also to protect the linemen and attendants at work.

It is the purpose of the instant invention to produce a novel locking mechanism for a switch of the type explained, and to provide a simple 0 and eificient means for spreading the blades prior to releasing the locking mechanism and before exerting a pull to move the blades out of contact with the stationary clip. The invention is characterized by several novel structural and functional features, which are provided to take care of a number of requirements as briefly indicated below.

It is desirable that the mechanism for locking the switch should be disposed outside of the main path of current so that preferably no current flows through the locking mechanism itself. This is to protect the locking mechanism against the detrimental effects of heating and arcing and also against the magnetic efiects of the current passing through the switch.

Another requirementresides in the desirability of providing meansfor breaking the corrosive seal which might obtain between the blades and the contact clip priorto" opening the switch, and preferably combining the actuation of these meanswith the actuation of the locking mechanism.

According to a further requirement, it seems desirable that the locking mechanism and the means for spreading the blades, should be pro tected.

The switch of my invention, which I will later on describe in detail, comprises two stationary contact clips mounted on a suitable base. Two cooperating companion contact blades are rotatably attached to one of the stationary clips. The other clip is-provided with a recess for receiving a locking lever. This lever is angular and mounted rotatably between the blades, outside of the main path of current flow when the switch is in closed position, and is movable with the blades. A spring is provided which tends to move the angular locking lever in a direction to engage the recess on the stationary clip and to thereby lock the blades in engagement with the clip. An eyelet is rotatably mounted between the blades, movable therewith, and adapted, when operated by a hook pole; to move the angular lever to unlock from the stationaryclip, thereby releasingthe bladesQ During this operation, the arm of the eyelet acting upon the locking lever also spreads the blades slightly apart to break the corrosive seal. The eyelet is further pro vided with a cam for engagement with the face of the stationary clip, and this cammed portion of the eyelet provides for leverage to accomplish the opening operation'in a simple and very efiicient manner. Pairs of stop members are pro-'- vided'on the eyelet and adapted to cooperate with the blades to limit the movement of the eyelet relative to the blades and to transmit the force, applied to the eyelet by the hook pole for closing or-for opening the switch, efficiently to the blades for moving the same in and out of contact with the clip. I

It will be seen that in this arrangement, the requirements set forth previously are fully met. The locking mechanism and the means for spreading the blades are disposed between the blades and protected thereby. All these parts are eut'sideof the path of the main current.

The structure is simple, durable, and efficient. A minimum number of parts are provided which cooperate in a positive, reliable and safe manner under any reasonable operating conditions. The structural strength of the arrangement is amply adequate to meet the service I a H Some of the. principal objects and features which" are accomplished by" my invention are enumerated separately in the following brief statements of objects.

One object of the invention is concerned a disconnecting switch of the floating blade, type, having a locking mechanism disposed within the eyelet provided on the blades and movable there with and having a lever tofdooperate withsaid' locking mechanism at all times regardless of the position of the eyelet during the closing or opening operation. I ilAnother object relates't'o the provision of a locking mechanism comprising. a'movable angular" spring controlled lever disposed. withinthe blades of the switch and movabletherewith, and adapted to cooperatefwith a recessornotch in thestationa'ry .contact'clip to lock the blades oh said clip in operating position. e h Still another objectisconcerned with the provision of angular projections arranged on the inside of the blades, whereby the lever arm, pro vided on the "eyelet for actuating the locking mechanism, can spread .theblades apart. to break the corrosive seal prior' to dislodging the blades from the contact clip. Therefore, the unlocking operation also breaks the corrosive seal. I A further object relates to, a cam provision combinedwith the eyelet for engaging theface of the contact clip during the, dislodg'in g opera v tion, whereby 'ar leverag'e is obtained which, ac complishes the opening of the s ratum a simpler and more efiicient manner .thanwas heretofore possible. f I Another object relates to stop provisions on the eyelet forlimiting its movementrelative to the blades in the s'witchopening as. well as in the switch closing direction and for directly and ehiciently transmitting to the blades force applied for closing or, for'ope'ning the switch. Otherobjectsnot specifically noted above will appear as the description progresses. A

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying two'sheets of'drawings in which: Q I

Figure 1 shows a side view of th'e switch with:

- the locking mechanism indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a partial cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 'l with certain parts omittedto Show the t a presentd in this fi ure, i. e., the provision for breaking thg seal of the blades; I

, Figure'3 represents a top view oif 'an bpersting assembly of two such switchesfmjounted .on a suitable support;

Figure 4 illustrates a' side mechanism'proper and of the means for spreading the blades, with one of thefblades-removed to;

show the arrangementmore clearly; and,

in Figure 4, with several parts omitted ior the sake of ;clarity.

to corresponding parts. 1

there is shown a support 1 suitably mounted on brackets such as 3'7 by means of bolts such as 38 and 38 and nuts 39. Mounting plates such as 2 and 3 are secured to the support 1 by means of bolts 4, 5, 55, 56 and bolts 6, 7, 57, 58, respectively, and nuts 8, 9, 10 and 11. Attached to these mounting plates are contact members, such as .12 and:',13... These stationary contact-members are usually referred to as Contact clips, and this term-as used previously and hereinafter is under- .stood to designate these contact members 12 "and 13.

It'i'naybe mentioned at this point that the con- 4 tact clips maybe suitably connected with current blades, movable therewith, andhisposedoutside of the main path of current new, andaflm'ovable] conductors, SLlCh asbus bars, or, in case of an ind'oorfin'stall'atien, the bus bars may be directly utilized as terminals and united with these clips as shown for'exarnple in my Patent No. 1,515,116 of November 11, 1924.

-It will beobserved that Figure 3 shows a twin ;construction,-that-is,to say, two disconnecting switches mounted. on the support. These two switches arealike and mayeither operatein common or individually, For. purposes of description, it will-be sufficientuto describe the structure of .one'oi theseswitches indetail and I have there- Ifore applied reference numerals only tothe various parts of one switch shown in Figure 3 in order to avoid .encumbering' the. drawings. The sideview ofthis switch, it will be remembered, is shown in Figure 11.. J '..;Continuing.now the description-of the structure, with reference to Figures 1 and 3, the switch comprises two suitable bladessuch as 14 and 40. These blades areifioatingwith'respectto the lockingmechanism which I shall describe presently. the contacting areas. being the only portions where'the blades are clampedor bound together. Theblades are rotatably' mounted on the clip 12 by:means of.a suitable boltandnut 15 and 47,

respectively. Insertedv between thenut and the bolt-head, respectively, and the surface of the blades, are; spring washers 16 and 480i well knovm construction, Approximately in the middleoi theblades areip'rovided bolts as well as spring washers and nuts for laterally securing theblades at-this point. The spring washers on one side of the .bladesare designated-by numerals l8.and.l9..and the corresponding-nuts are marked by numerals 17 and 20. Spring washer'46 and bolt 4 45are shown on-the' other side opposite the washisshown at 25, mounted pivotally between the blades at point 25'. This eyelet is best described with-reference toFigures 4 and 3. It is provided with warm 28 'foractuating the locking mechanism,'. and with two pairs 1 of stops 26-42 and 27- 11 for limiting and for confining its motion onthe blades,.-and for efliciently' applying and for V distributing-the force applied to the-eyeletand Figure 5 IS an enlarged end view of the locking mechanismand of the spreading provisions, looking toward the left into the switch as shown laterallyirom. the eyelet in pairs, as marked in- Figure3 :by numerals- 2741 and26-42, respecr I tively. During the respective movement ofthe Lilzereference numerals in all drawings refer eyelet, a:corresponding pairof these stops will engage-the'blades an'd stop further movement of Reierringnow particularly to Figuresland 3., l

gativelygreat-power isnecessary upon initiating eyelet after a pair of these stops has engaged the blades, will be transmitted directly to the blades for moving the same on the clips 12 either into engagement or out of engagement with the clip 13. In Figure 4, which shows the position of the eyelet in the closed position of the switch, with the locking mechanism engaging the -clip'13 to prevent opening of the switch, the stop 41, lying op posite the stop 27 will be in engagement with blade 40, blade14 being removed from the assembly in Figure 4. With the blade 14 attached, it will be apparent that stop 27 will engage this blade similar to stop 41 engaging blade 40.

The locking mechanism will be explained, next with reference to Figure 4. I Y

It will be seen that the stationary contact clip 13 is recessed at 32 to provide a locking projection 60. An angular lever having arms 31 and 33 is pivotally mounted on the shaft of bolt 23. A spring 34 is wound around this shaft, one end being attached to the pin 35 disposed between the blades, and the other end engaging the arm 33 of the locking lever, tending to move the arm 31 into engagement with the recessed portion on the clip, and to lock the arm 31 behind the projection 60.

As shown particularly in Figure 5, the locking member comprising the arms 31 and 33 is recessed to receive the spring 34, its sides 54 and 55 being pivotally mounted on the shaft 23. Now, with the switch closed as shown. in Figures 1 and 4, the locking arm 31 engages the recessed portion 32 of the clip, locking behind the projection 60. Since the locking arm 31 is mounted within the blades and on the shaft 23 connecting these blades laterally, it is apparent that in effect the blades are locked to the clip and prevented from disengaging the clip until the locking arm 31 is released.

When opening of the switch is desired, 7 the hook pole will be used and inserted into the opening 30 in the eyelet. A pull exerted on the hook pole will rotate the eyelet in the direction of the arrow shown in Figures 1 and 4, and, accordingly, the arm 28 on the eyelet will move in contrary direction and act upon the arm 33 of the angular locking lever, rotating the same until the arm 31 leaves the recess 32 and releases the blades. 7

Further movement of the eyelet will bring .the cam 29, provided thereon, into engagement-with the face of the clip 13. This cam 29 is so proportioned as to provide-a gradually decreasing leverage for the opening operation. In the beginning of the opening operation, the leverage will be relatively great as may be readily seen by.

comparing the relative distances from the-opening 30 to the point of rotation 25 and fromthere to the rear portion of the cam 29 which will engage the face of the clip 13 first. As the opening operation progresses, the eyeletbeing pulled further down in the direction of the arrows in Figures 1 and 4, the distance between the point of rotation 25' and that point of the cam which engages the face of the clip at any moment during the operation, will increase, and the leverage will, therefore, correspondingly decrease- This means in effect that a certain pull, on-the eyelet will exert a relatively great force in the beginning of the opening operation and that this force will gradually decrease as this operation progresses.

the correct amount of force when needed. Rel-- the opening-operation, and as the blades leave the clip, less power is needed gradually for with- 'Ifhe stops; 26 and 42 will engage the blades when'the opening operation has progressed to a point when the blades are almost completely withdrawn from clip 13 and ready to leave this clip., The-motion of the eyelet relative to the blades will therefore, stop. Further pull on the eyelet will-now be transmitted directly to the bladeswby. means of the stops, and will be effective to move the blades in the opening direction and out of contactiwith clip 13. The arm 33 of the lockingmechanism and the arm 28 of the eyelet are-so proportioned as to prevent the arm 28 from slipping from the arm 33 and locking behind the same-. In the extreme position of the eyelet, with the blades withdrawn from the clip 13, the arm 28.0fythe eyelet will be in engagement with arm 33 of thelocking lever, holding this lever against the: force of the spring 34. In the extreme position asshown in the drawings, with the blades engaging. clip 13,-.the arm 28 of the eyelet will be positioned relative to the locking lever approximately as shown in'Figures 1 and 4. It will be seen, therefore, that the arm 28 of the eyelet remains in operating engagement with the locking lever in any position during the opening operation of the switch, and, since the closing operation takes place in reversedorder, this operating engagement will also be maintained during the closing operation.

' It will be seen from the above that the switch opening operation, as'far as explained, includes three distinct stages. First, the locking mechanism is released.- Then the cam 29 cooperates with the face of the clip to eifect partial dislodging of the blades, and, finally when the blades are withdrawn sufficiently from the contact clip, further pull on the eyelet will effect the completion of the opening operation.

1 .The mechanism for spreading the blades apart prior to moving them out of contact with the clip will be explained next.

-' A projection50 and 51, respectively, is provided oneach blade, as particularly shown in Figure 2. .These projections are permanently attached to the blades .or may be integral with the blades. The blades may be forged, but it will be preferabletopunch these projections into the blades as shown. in the drawings, or to attach the-projections by means of welding. The projections may slope slightly toward the interior and the edges may be rounded or beveled as indicated at 61 and 62. Thepurpose of these projections is to spread the blades in order to break the corrosivesealprior to applying the pull which withdrawsthe blades from contact with the stationary clip. This spreading operation is accomplished by. the arm 28 of the eyelet which also actuates the locking mechanism. Arm 28 wedges betweenthe projections and thereby exerts a lateral -force on the blades which spreads the same apart and cracks any corrosive deposits which might, have accumulated. The blades are thus positivelypried loose from the clip and at the sametime unlocked, and the opening operation cannow continue as already explained.

Fonclosing; the switch, it is merely necessary to.- operate the eyelet in reversed direction. The

events will take place in substantially reversed will again engage therecess 32 on the clip-"13.

The blades and the eyelet are then in the position as shown in the drawings.

'It will be seen that the locking switch as described above and as shown in the drawings,

presents numerous advantageous features over prior constructions. There are only very few moving parts disposed protected to the outside and out of the main path of current flow. There is utmost economy of operation due mine fact that the same parts'which cooperate to unlock the switch, also serve to spread the blades. apart.

The operation of the locking mechanism is posi tive and reliable and under operative control of the eyelet during any moment or its opening or closing operation. The cam on the eyelet, cooperating with the face of the clip secures positive dislodging of the blades in a simple manner, and the stop members on' the eyelet, cooperating with the blades. insure definite'application. of force at the proper places during the opening or closing of the switch. The arrangement as described represents an advance in the art chiefly/by the novel combination of improved cooperating elements designed to simplify production and, at the same time, to render a product which is sat and reliable in operation. I

I have shown my invention in the. particular embodiment above described. It will be understood, however, that I do not want tolimit myself to this exact construction, as I may employequiv alents thereof known to the art at. the time of the'filing of this application without. departing from the spirit andfrom the scope of the appended claims. i

What I claim as my inventionis:

1. An electric switch having a stationary clip and blades movably mounted thereon,. a stationary companion clip, a projectionon said comanion clip, a spring controlled lever disposed movably between said blades for engaging: said projection to lock said blades on said. companion clip, an operating lever movably mounted. between said blades for actuating said spring controlled lever to unlock said blades, and a; cam provided on said operating lever for; engaging: said companion clip to dislodge said blades from contact with said companion clip.

2. An electric switching; device having sustationary contact clip and movable. blades for en;- gaging said clip, an angular lever disposed be. tween and interiorly of said blades and-movable therewith for locking said blades. on said clip, an operating lever movably mounted between said; blades and movable therewith, and means on said lever for actuating said angular lever to release said blades from said clip and for spreading: saidblades apart prior toopening said switch;

3. An electric switch having a. contact; clip: and;

movable blades for engaging. said; clip, locking means disposed between and. interiorlyof said 7 blades and movabletherewith 'for locking said blades on said clip, means for spreading said; blades, operating means movablyr'mounted between said blades and movable-therewith, a singlemeans on said operating means foractuating said locking means to release said blades from tact with said clip, and cam means on said operating means forengaging said clip to move said -blades from said clip: 7

4. An electric switch having a contact clip and movable blades for engaging said clip, looking means disposed between and interiorly of said blade's'and movable therewith for locking said blades on said clip, means for spreading said blades, operating means movably mounted between said blades and movable therewith, a single means onsaid operating means for actuating said locking means to release said blades from said clip and for actuatingsaid spreading means to spread the blades lateral-1y for breaking the corrosive seal prior'to moving said blades out of contact with said clip, cam means on said operating means cooperating with said clip'for' partially disengaging said blades from said clip, and means on said operating means cooperating with'said blades for limiting the movement of said operating means relative to saidblades and for completely disengaging sa id blades from said clip.

5. The combination with switch blades, 2, pair of contact clipsfand a movable operating member mounted on the blades, of a locking mechanism mounted on and disposed between said blades outside of the main path of current flow and protected by said blades, means on said operating member for releasing said locking mechanism, andcarn means on' said member for disengaging said blades from one of said contact clips.

- 6. The combination with switch blades, a pair of contact clips and a movable operating member, of a locking mechanism for locking said blades on one of said clips, said locking mechanism being mounted on and disposed between said blades outsideof the main path of current flow and protected by saidblades; pin means extending through the blades and the mechanism and supporting the mechanism, means on said operating member for releasing said loclcing mechanism, i-

cam means on'said member cooperating with said clip for applying gradually decreasing force to disengage said blades from said clip, and means on said operating member cooperating with said blades for limiting the movement of said I? member relative to said blades.

7. Thecombination with switch blades, a pair of contact clips 'and a movable operating member, of a mechanism for locking the switch blades in engagement with one of said clips, means for a sting-member -for' actuatingsaid locking means to release said blades from said clip and for actuating said spreading means to spread said blades prior to removing sa-id blades from contact with said clip, and 'cammeans on said operating member cooperating with said clip for thereafter applying gradually decreasing force to disengage said blades from saidclip.

8-. 'The'combinationwith switch blades, a pair of contact clips and a movable operating member, of amechanism forlocking the switch blades 71 in engagement with one of said clips, means for spreading the-blades, said spreading means and said mechanism being disposed entirely between said blades outside-of the path of current flow and-laterally protected by: said blades, said oper-- ating member including a single lever for actuating said locking means and said spreading means to unlock said blades from said clip and to break the corrosive seal prior to moving said blades out of contact with said clip, cam means on said operating member cooperating with said clip for applying gradually decreasing force to move said blades partially from said clip, and means on said operating member cooperating with said blades for limiting the movement of said member relative to the blades and for moving said blades completely from said clip to open said switch.

9. The combination with a pair of movable switch blades for engagement with a contact clip and an operating member mounted movably between said blades and movable therewith for effecting the engagement and disengagement of said blades, of a locking mechanism for said blades mounted on and disposed between said blades out of the main path of current flow and protected thereby and movable therewith, means on said operating member for actuating said mechanism, cam means on said member for partially effecting the disengagement of said blades from said clip, and means on said member for limiting the movement thereof relative to said blades and for completely effecting the disengagement of said blades.

10. A switch including a contact and a switch blade movable into and out of embracing engagement with the contact, spring means urging the blade in firm engagement with the contact, and means carried by the blade for spreading the blade from the contact against the action of the spring means upon the initiation of the switch opening operation.

11. A switch including a pair of cooperating contact making members movable into and out of embracing relation to one another, means movable with one of said members and effective upon its initial movement to spread said members and to thereafter exert a camming action to move said members apart.

12. A switch including a pair of spaced floating blades having a limited relative movement and adapted to engage a contact, a pivot pin extending through the blades and substantially outside of the region of current flow, a V-shaped latch pivoted on said pin and including a locking arm and a releasing arm, said latch lying substantially entirely between said blades, means biasing the latch about its pivot to its locking position, a second pivot pin extending through said blades and spaced from the first pin, and means for prying the blades from a contact, said last means including a pivoted switch pry-loose and operating lever carried by said second pin and having also means for engaging the releasing arm of the latch and moving the latch about its pivot to its releasing position.

ERNEST H. JACOBS. 

